New Year’s Resolutions of Freelancers
The end of a year means something for many people: New Year’s resolutions. The finality of one year and the start of another naturally feels like the perfect time to make some positive changes. I got to wondering about New Year’s resolutions and where they began – thanks to Google, you will probably be surprised as I was to learn that the first people to make New Year’s resolutions were the ancient Babylonians, some 4,000-odd years ago. Back then, they made promises to the gods with the hope that if they kept their word, the gods would show them favour that year.
Today, those of us that make New Year’s resolutions make these promises to ourselves. Studies estimate that around 60% of adults make at least one New Year’s resolution, but the follow-through rate is limper than week old lettuce. Less than 25% of those who make New Year’s resolutions stay committed to them beyond January, and a teeny tiny 8% actually accomplish them. So, why do so many of us fail?
The fact is that most of us make resolutions that are just too broad and vague. ‘I want to get fitter’, ‘I want to lose weight’, ‘I want to make more money’. Apparently, we should be making a firm plan and specific commitment. For example: ‘I want to get fitter and to do this, I am going to complete C25K and then run three times a week for the at least the first 3 months of the year’. Timing is also a factor. People automatically assume that you have to commit to a resolution for a whole year. Who made up this rule?! Life changes, and there’s nothing to stop you re-evaluating your priorities and changing your resolution right along with it to fit what you need at that time. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It simply means that you have adapted.
I’ve sat thinking about whether I have any New Year’s resolutions I want to make for my business. See one of the great/best things about being freelance is that I get to make the decisions about my business – who I work with, how many hours I work, when I work and the type of projects that I take on. While trying to decide on my own resolutions for the year*, I thought I would ask my wonderful freelance friends on Twitter the same question (both for work and work-life) and I was inundated with responses! If you are freelance and need some inspiration, here’s just some of what they came up with!
‘Running my business more like a business – invest in tools and processes to run my finances and admin better’ – sounds like Chelsea at @fierce_content might have a VA in her future!
‘Refine my processes (so I can work 3 days per week around my kids)’ – Catherine Jones @cleanslatecopy – with two kids myself, I can definitely resonate with this one!
‘Create a lead magnet to attract people to my mailing list. Hang on… I need to set up a mailing list sign-up page too. Hang on… *sigh* - Fi Phillips @FiPhillipsCopy
‘Take more time to focus on my own content for lead generation’ – Mark Grainger @MarkGrainger
‘Put better systems in place to help me manage repetitive tasks’ – Michelle Garrett @PRisUs – this is something that I think many of us could benefit from!
Structure is also something that Chris Guiton @WealdWordsmith also wants to achieve in 2021 ‘Develop a more structured approach to business planning and be less ad-hoc. I’m good at helping others in this respect, but need to do more work on it closer to home!’.
‘Fewer clients but be better paid and more energising’ – Francesca Baker @andsoshethinks aims for the dream right there!
And along similar lines, Helen Hill @unlikelygenius has already made a sticky note that takes pride of place in her office that says, ‘In 2021 I will only take on projects which excite me and bring me joy’. If that isn’t empowering, I don’t know what is!
Ellen Forster of @contentbythesea is also aiming to take more control of the work she takes on, stating her New Year’s resolution is to ‘be more critical when choosing clients and not just say yes to everyone who can pay me’. Love this Ellen!
‘Finish (Ok, begin and finish) a social media marketing certification course’ – Shivani Shah @wordsbyshivani shows it’s never too late to add another string to your bow.
‘Start pitching my new services packages and apply for speaking engagements. Start earning back all that money that I invested in myself’ – Sterling Schuyler @sterschuyler – good for you Sterling!
Katie Thompson @katielingoyork knows the importance of wide appeal to your audience and wants to ‘be more diverse with channels e.g. more videos and podcasts’. Can’t wait to see/hear these Katie! Also, in true Katie style she wants to ‘redo my effing website’!
And she’s not alone! Making improvements to their website or completely revamping it seems to be a common theme among New Year’s resolutions, with this bunch all citing it as high on their priority list:
‘Just to get my new website into the wild ASAP’ – Mary Whitehouse @Word_Service
‘Finally update my website. Actually write some blog posts and be more proactive’ – Fi @FreelanceFee
‘Get my website live ASAP’ – Meenakshi Lohani @Meenakshil247
‘Redoing the portfolio pages in my website and doing more on LinkedIn’ – Sally ‘mug cake’ Fox @sallymfoxwrites (I know a great course for that - see Sophie’s link at the end of this blog for her LinkedIn for Humans course!)
‘Work on my website. I create so many for clients and haven’t reviewed my own. I need to take time to plan my own content too’ – Berenice Smith @hihellolovely
‘Some case studies and redoing my website while trying to get back to non-Covid mode’ – Annabel Fay @annabeljfay
‘To optimize my site for some good keywords in my niche’ – Robyn Roste @RobynRoste
It’s true that sometimes we get so wrapped up in client work that it can be difficult to make time to do the things that we need for our own businesses. For example, it took me 5 years to build my own, fairly simple website!
Of course there were some much more personal responses to my question too.
Caroline King @kingsandcubs want to ‘have clearer boundaries between home and work so I don’t drift in and out of both 7 days a week’ – this is something that I can personally relate to.
‘To stop being shy and meet more people in real life’ – Emma Smith @emmaproofreader – let’s hope this is possible in 2021 Emma! Virtual events just aren’t the same.
One that I can totally get on board with is Larell @lalalarell stating that her resolution is to ‘always take a vacation’.
‘Take some time off and always stop for PopMaster’ – Suzanna Jackson @suzannajackson1 - apparently you can catch PopMaster daily on Radio 2 during the Ken Bruce show.
‘Consume less and shop more sustainably’ – very noble efforts from Giles @GilesMDigital
While Laura Mattiucci @LauraMattiuci asks ‘does learn how to play the piano count?’ – absolutely it does Laura!
And finally, the lovely Sophie Cross @fullythoughtout nailed it by sharing this meme….
Incidentally, Sophie has had to completely pivot her business this year due to the bastard c-word – you can check out her incredible new marketing courses for freelancers (including LinkedIn for Humans) here https://linktr.ee/thoughtfully
And I think that’s probably the most important thing to remember. Whatever resolutions, plans, goals or whatever you want to call them that you set yourself, you can’t guarantee what’s coming. Just perhaps, being able to simply adapt to your current situation, whatever life is throwing at you, is the strongest skill of all. So, if you do set yourself resolutions this New Year and they don’t work out, be kind to yourself too.
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*I finished this whole blog then realised that I hadn’t shared my own resolution. After having my kids at home due to school closures for the best part of a year, I’m hoping for a dose of normality next year. The only resolution I’m definitely making (apart from going back to the gym) is to niche down and focus on the content I want to produce. For those that aren’t in the know already, I am a specialist health copywriter covering all things medical, dentistry, ophthalmology, alternative medicine, beauty & aesthetics. Oh, and I write about pets too! I’m also planning a return to our beloved second home of Mallorca too!